8 clothing related reminders from Month One of The Self-Made Wardrobe. Because reinventing the wheel every time sucks.
It’s the beginning of Day 32 of The Self-Made Wardrobe Project.
Yesterday was the end of Month 1, today is the beginning of Month 2, and I’m beginning to maybe believe that this project might not be as crazy as it feels.
At the very least I know I can come up with something to wear every day – freezing when the weather finally gets cold is a whole other thing though.
Since I’ve been doing this for over a month, I’ve learned some things, about what I like, and what I don’t.
So I’d like to write myself some clothing related reminders.
They’re not rules. Or even guidelines.
They’re just reminders.
Things I’ve learned, and would rather not have to re-learn.
Because reinventing the wheel every time sucks.
(Of course, these work for me and my wardrobe. You can have whatever wardrobe reminders/guidelines/rules work for you and your wardrobe.)
I want a reminder that…
: crew-neck T-shirts never fit in any dimension. If you love it, buy an XL and cut it down.
: you don’t have big feet. You’re a 7 or a 7.5. I don’t know where this big footed idea came from.
: go for fuller skirts – not pencil skirts. You like walking, and don’t work in an office, so not having pencil skirts is really ok.
: you prefer cardigans to pullovers. So knit some damn cardigans already.
: blouses aren’t really your thing. If there’s one you love – excellent! Otherwise don’t beat yourself up over sticking to tank tops – just make some interesting over-shirts.
: you don’t really like dresses. Don’t get sucked up into blogland’s need for all the cute flirty dresses. You prefer separates – and that’s ok.
: go for the dropped waist or at your hips. You don’t really like things at your natural waist.
: buy black fabric. And grey fabric. And blue fabric. And other solid fabrics. I know the prints are more fun to buy. But the solids make the prints more fun to wear & style.
And let me repeat that last one.
: buy the solid fabrics.
These reminders are things I’ve found work – for me.
Sometimes I go against them (most of the time I go against the fabric reminder – but this project is changing that).
But when I remember to remember these things about myself, how I wear my clothing, and how I interact with my wardrobe – things go a little more smoothly.
And who doesn’t like things to go a little more smoothly.
The Self-Made Wardrobe Week 4
The Self-Made Wardrobe is a project where I only wear garments I’ve made, for one year.
You can read more about the project here.
It’s the end of Week 4 of The Self-Made Wardrobe, and on Sunday it’ll be the true end of Month 1.
1 month down, just 11 months to go…
Fall is definitely in the air, and I’m both excited and petrified.
Last weekend (Days 22 & 23) I went up to my parent’s house, they live up in New England, and it was chilly. Just in case I needed a reminder to sit my ass at that sewing machine.
I wore the jersey dress I mentioned in last week’s post, and loved it. It was wonderfully comfortable for the train ride up and back. Plus I got tons of complements on it – and who doesn’t love that.
The days are still beautiful, and I can (obviously) still wear my summer uniform of skirts & tank tops, but one morning it’ll be fall, and there will be no going back.
Thankfully the sweater I’m working on is gaining sleeves quite quickly.
I have one or two more skirts planned, and then I really must put a moratorium on making skirts, because this is getting ridiculous.
Onwards to fall!
See you in September.
(eep!)
a skirt, a shawl, a sweater, and a dress
Each Wednesday I post little snippets about the projects I’m working on.
You can see all of the Wednesday posts here.
I added another 10 rows or so to the lace shawl I’m knitting out of Julie Asseline’s beautiful “Merletto” lace weight yarn.
I got through the the striped section of the first sleeve on my Versio Sweater.
I was planning on working both sleeves simultaneously, by finishing a stripe on one sleeve, then working that same stripe on the second sleeve. But when it came down to it, I went the route that gave me fewer ends to weave in…
I’m working on a pleated skirt for The Self-Made Wardrobe Project. I absolutely adore the idea, but I’m hoping it doesn’t look too much like a tablecloth.
And I spent about 9 hours this weekend putting my latest jersey wrap dress through the rigors of train travel and it held up beautifully.









